This is a record of my journey as a Muslim. I used to be Catholic and belonged to a missionary organisation. After my conversion, I sat on the board of a Muslim converts' organisation and specialised in da'wah programmes, convert management, interfaith issues and apostasy cases. I am an initiate of a Sufi order. As such, the articles and writings tend to cover these areas.
All the Arabic and graphics could not have been done without the help of my wife, Zafirah.

Friday, 16 November 2012

The Significance of Muharram & 'Ashura

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ
ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The
following is adapted from the teachings of Shaykh Muhammad Nazhim Adil
al-Haqqani (q.s.).

As mentioned before, ‘Ashura is historically
significance. On this day: Allah (s.w.t.) Accepted the repentance of Adam
(a.s.) after his exile from Paradise;
He Saved Nuh (a.s.) and his ummah in the ark; He Made the fire into
which Ibrahim (a.s.) was thrown by Namrud
cool; He Spoke directly to Musa (a.s.)
and Sent down the Torah. This was also
the day Ayyub (a.s.) was Restored to
health; Yusuf (a.s.) was reunited
with his father Ya’qub (a.s.); Yunus
(a.s.) was Taken out from the belly
of the fish; the Red Sea was parted and the Banu Isra’il was Delivered from
captivity and Fir’awn’s army was destroyed. This is also the day Dawud (a.s.) was Forgiven; the kingdom of Sulayman
(a.s.) was Restored; ‘Isa (a.s.) and Idris (a.s.) were Raised to Jannah
and al-Husayn (a.s.), grandson of the
Prophet (s.a.w.) was martyred.

We should worship Allah (s.w.t.) as much as we can on ‘Ashura. Whosoever fasts on this day is like one who
fasts all his life. Whosoever clothes a
naked person, Allah (s.w.t.) Clothes
him with His Mercy. He whosoever visits the sick, Allah (s.w.t.) will Grants him a reward that will never be decreased. Whosoever shows affection for the orphan, or
feeds the hungry or gives water to the thirsty; Allah (s.w.t.) Feed him a feast from Paradise and Quench his thirst with Salsabil, the wine of Jannah does not intoxicate. And whosoever ever makes ghusl on this day enjoys excellent health and freedom from ill-health
and laziness. Whosoever provides
generously for his family on this day, Allah (s.w.t.) Generous to him throughout this year. And whosoever applies kohl to his eyes will
never suffer from eye infection again, insha’Allah.

It is recorded in Swahih Muslim that Mu`awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (r.a.) related, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (s.w.t.) say, ‘It is the day of ‘Ashura. Allah (s.w.t.)
has not made fasting obligatory for you. But I am fasting. He who likes to observe fast among you should
do so, and he who likes not to observe it (does not have to) observe it.’”

It is also recorded in Swahih Muslim that Abu Qatadah (r.a.)
related that the Prophet (s.a.w.)
said that the fast on the 10th of Muharram atones for the sins of
the preceding year.

The Prophet (s.a.w.) observed ‘Ashura by fasting. He asked the Jews why they fasted on that day
and they told him, “It is the day on which Allah drowned Fir’awn and rescued Musa,
so we fast in it to give thanks to Allah Most High.”

The Prophet (s.a.w.) replied saying, “We have more of a right to Musa than you.”
So, he fasted on that day and ordered
the people to fast on that day. He also
said near the end of his life, “By Allah, if I lived longer, I would fast on
the 9th of Muharram.” That
is, that he would fast on the 9th and the 10th.

Swahih Muslim recorded, from
Abu Hurayrah (r.a.), the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “The best month to fast
after Ramadhan is Muharram.”

Qays ibn ‘Abbad (r.a.) said, “To Allah Belongs the Command on the tenth night of
every sacred month. As for the tenth of
the month of sacrifice, that is the Day of Sacrifice. As for the tenth of Muharram, that is the day
of ‘Ashura. As for the tenth of Rajab,
in it: Allah doth Blot out or Confirm what He Pleaseth. and I forgot what he
said about Dzu al-Qa’idah.” Regarding
Rajab, he was quoting the following ayat:

Allah Doth Blot out or Confirm
what He Pleaseth: with Him is the Mother of the Book. (Surah ar-Ra’ad:39)

Shaykh Khalid az-Ziyat (r.a.) said, “It has reached us that on the first of Rajab, Nuh (a.s.) set sail in the ark and he fasted
and ordered all those with him from jinn
and mankind to do so saying, ‘Fast this day for verily whoever among you fasts
it, will be brought far from the Fire the distance of one year's travel’; Nuh (a.s.) fasted in the Ark the months of
Rajab, Sha`ban, Ramadhan, Shawwal, Dzu al-Qa`idah and Dzu al-Hijjah and ten
days of Muharram. Then the ark came to
rest on ‘Ashura and Nuh (a.s.) said
to all those who were with him from jinn
and humankind, ‘Fast this day.’"

The scholar, Shaykh az-Zamakhshari (r.a.) said, “It’s distinction among the
sacred months is due to ‘Ashura. The
best of the months for the voluntary fast is Muharram, then Rajab then the rest
of the sacred months and then Sha`ban.”

It is related from ibn Mas’ud (r.a.), that he said, “It is incumbent
upon the believer to intend spending Laylat
al-Qadr in prayer from the very first night of the month of Muharram to the
end of the year, so that he will most certainly chance upon it.”

Shah Baha’ ad-Din an-Naqshband (q.s.) is the imam of the Thariqa’
Naqshbandiyyah and the imam of
the Golden Chain and the best of those who carried this lineage from the Khwajagan. He was born in the month of Muharram, in 717 AH
/ 1317 CE, in the village of Qaswr al-‘Arifan near Bukhara.

Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said, “I was the most tortured
among all the prophets.” After that,
were his children and grandchildren - they were killed and yet they never
turned their backs. al-Husayn (r.a.) went forth. He had given a promise and against the advice
of many, he went. When he arrived, his
supporters held back, but he kept going.
On that day, al-Husayn (r.a.)
was martyred. When we fast that day, we
remember al-Husayn (r.a.).